Russia declares ceasefire in Ukraine�s Kyiv, 3 other cities to allow civilians to evacuate

Mangalore Today News Network

Kyiv, Mar 07, 2022: Russia declared a ceasefire in Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv and three other cities - Mariupol, Kharkiv and Sumy - on Monday. The ceasefire will come into effect at 10 am Moscow time (12.30 pm IST).

 

The ceasefire has been announced to allow for civilian evacuations from the four Ukrainian cities. The Russian army has announced the opening of several humanitarian corridors in Ukraine.

On Saturday, Russia had declared a brief ceasefire in Mariupol and Volnovakha to allow civilians to exit. "Today, on March 5 at 10 am Moscow time, the Russian side declares a ceasefire and opens humanitarian corridors for the exit of civilians from Mariupol and Volnovakha," the Russian defence ministry said, as per Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik.

However, this quickly fell apart after Ukrainian officials said shelling had halted the work to remove civilians hours after Russia announced the deal.

On Sunday, Russia declared that humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians from the Ukrainian cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha would be reopened.

Later the same day, Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said evacuation from Mariupol was disrupted for the second time due to ongoing Russian attacks on the city.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. While the vast Russian armoured column threatening Ukraine’s capital remains stalled outside Kyiv, Russia’s military has launched hundreds of missile and artillery attacks on cities and other sites across the country.

At least 331 civilians have been confirmed killed since the fighting began, but the true number is probably much higher, the UN human rights office said. More than 1.4 million people have fled Ukraine.

Courtesy:India Today